How far is Rockford, IL from Palestine, IL?

The driving distance from Rockford, IL to Palestine, IL is about 300.4 miles (483.5 km), with a travel time of about 05h 59m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 238.7 miles (384.2 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 11h 58m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
300.42 mi
05h 59m
Flight
238.74 mi
384.21 km direct

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Rockford.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
238.74 mi
Kilometers
384.21 km
Flight Time
00h 28m

Driving Distance

Road route
300.42 mi
Kilometers
483.48 km
Drive Time
05h 59m

Gas Cost Calculator

Leave and Arrive Planner

Pick a departure time to see your estimated arrival and same-day return window.

Drive time stays fixed at 05h 59m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Palestine
Sun, May 31, 1:45 PM CDT
Return by in Rockford
Sun, May 31, 7:44 PM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Rockford
2026-05-31T07:45
Arrive Palestine
Sun, May 31, 1:45 PM CDT
Route Timing
05h 59m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
11:59 AM to 1:59 PM CDT

An early departure helps you fit a real stop into the day without turning the return into a late-night drive.

Leave by
5:02 AM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Rockford
9:00 PM CDT
Early departure recommended

This departure sits inside the recommended comfort window for the route.

Halfway Point

A useful midpoint for breaks, coffee, or meeting in the middle.

Mid-route stop
Le Roy
IL

City in McLean County, Illinois, United States

From Rockford
150.2 mi
02h 59m
To Palestine
150.2 mi
02h 59m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
79°F
Sunday

Partly Sunny

Starts
Sun, May 31 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
5 to 10 mph SE
Destination
78°F
Sunday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Sun, May 31 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
3 to 7 mph E

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Rockford and Palestine.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Rockford and Palestine.

  1. 1

    Start on West State Street

    546 ft · 23 sec · West State Street

  2. 2

    Turn left onto South Church Street

    1519 ft · 37 sec · South Church Street

  3. 3

    Turn left onto Cedar Street

    84 m · 5 sec · Cedar Street

  4. 4

    Turn right onto South Main Street

    3.6 mi · 6 min · South Main Street

  5. 5

    Take the ramp left

    1707 ft · 44 sec

  6. 6

    Merge slight left onto U.S. Grant Memorial Highway

    4.3 mi · 5 min · U.S. Grant Memorial Highway

  7. 7

    Take the exit slight right

    1.2 km · 2 min

  8. 8

    Merge slight right

    118.2 mi · 2 hr 7 min

  9. 9

    Keep slight right to continue on I 55 South, US 51 South: Peoria, Champaign, Saint Louis, Decatur

    7.6 mi · 8 min

  10. 10

    Keep slight left to continue on I 74 East, US 51 South, US 55 Business North: Indianapolis, Decatur

    45.3 mi · 48 min

  11. 11

    Take the exit slight right toward I 57: Chicago, Memphis

    1869 ft · 35 sec

  12. 12

    Keep slight right to continue on I 57 South: Memphis

    2939 ft · 50 sec

  13. 13

    Merge slight left

    47.2 mi · 51 min

  14. 14

    Take the exit slight right toward IL 16 East: Charleston

    1676 ft · 47 sec

  15. 15

    Turn straight onto Charleston Avenue East

    1.2 km · 1 min · Charleston Avenue East

  16. 16

    Continue on Illinois Route 16

    6 mi · 8 min · Illinois Route 16

  17. 17

    Continue on West Lincoln Avenue

    1.8 mi · 3 min · West Lincoln Avenue

  18. 18

    Turn right onto 18th Street

    1.6 mi · 2 min · 18th Street

  19. 19

    Continue on Illinois Route 130

    1.2 km · 1 min · Illinois Route 130

  20. 20

    Continue on Route 130

    10 mi · 15 min · Route 130

  21. 21

    Continue on County Road 1825 East

    2 mi · 3 min · County Road 1825 East

  22. 22

    Continue on County Road 1775 E

    1.3 km · 1 min · County Road 1775 E

  23. 23

    Continue on North Haughton Highway

    1945 ft · 33 sec · North Haughton Highway

  24. 24

    Continue on 1700E

    1.3 mi · 2 min · 1700E

  25. 25

    Continue on North Haughton Highway

    4 mi · 6 min · North Haughton Highway

  26. 26

    Continue on County Road 1700E

    2.1 mi · 3 min · County Road 1700E

  27. 27

    Continue on North 1250th Street

    11.2 mi · 17 min · North 1250th Street

  28. 28

    Turn left

    87 m · 15 sec

  29. 29

    Turn left

    155 m · 19 sec

  30. 30

    Turn straight onto North 1100th Avenue

    12 mi · 18 min · North 1100th Avenue

  31. 31

    Continue on East Main Street

    2637 ft · 45 sec · East Main Street

  32. 32

    Continue on W Main St

    1 km · 57 sec · W Main St

  33. 33

    Continue on East 1050th Avenue

    6.9 mi · 10 min · East 1050th Avenue

  34. 34

    Continue on West Main Street

    2.7 mi · 5 min · West Main Street

  35. 35

    Continue on East 1050th Ave

    5.3 mi · 9 min · East 1050th Ave

  36. 36

    Continue on North Washington Street

    922 ft · 19 sec · North Washington Street

  37. 37

    Continue on West Washington Street

    98 m · 7 sec · West Washington Street

  38. 38

    Continue on West Franklin Street

    2213 ft · 46 sec · West Franklin Street

  39. 39

    Turn right onto North Main Street

    22 m · 3 sec · North Main Street

  40. 40

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · North Main Street

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Rockford and Palestine.

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Long-distance drive

This route is long enough that fuel, rest stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single maneuver.

Directions
40 steps
9 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
7
3 merges, 4 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
13.3 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
U.S. Grant Memorial Highway
123 mi · 41%
I 57 South
47.8 mi · 16%
I 74 East
45.3 mi · 15%
North 1100th Avenue
12 mi · 4%
North 1250th Street
11.2 mi · 4%
Route 130
9.97 mi · 3%
Longest Stretch

U.S. Grant Memorial Highway

Merge slight right

118 mi · 02h 07m

Route Summary

A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.

Trip Read

A longer out-and-back drive

This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.

Drive Time
05h 59m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
11h 58m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+61.7 mi
238.7 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Le Roy
02h 59m from Rockford
Leave By
5:02 AM CDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Partly Sunny leaving Rockford and Mostly Sunny near Palestine.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Rockford to Palestine?

The road trip is about 300.4 miles (483.5 km) and usually takes 05h 59m in normal driving conditions.

Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?

This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Le Roy is a useful midpoint, sitting about 150.2 miles from Rockford and 150.2 miles from Palestine.

How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?

The direct path is about 238.7 miles (384.2 km), while the road route adds roughly 61.7 extra miles because roads do not follow the straight air line.

When is the best time to leave for this route?

A good departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 5:02 AM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $39.97 one way or $79.95 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 94.2 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Partly Sunny around Rockford and Mostly Sunny near Palestine.

Stop Ideas Near Le Roy

Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Le Roy, so nearby transit and meeting points are shown instead.
Reviewed stop coverage is still thin around this midpoint, so practical transit waypoints are shown on the right.

Transit and Meeting Points

Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Le Roy.

RAIL

Uptown Station

25 mi away
100 East Parkinson St.
RAIL

Rantoul

51 mi away
West Sangamon and North Kentucky Aves.
RAIL

Illinois Terminal

52 mi away
45 East University Ave.
RAIL

Lincoln

56 mi away
Broadway and North Chicago Sts.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Rockford and Palestine. Straight-line distance: 238.74 mi (384.21 km).

Rockford

#1 Rockford

The second most populous city in Illinois.

Population144,835
Coordinates42.2711300, -89.0940000
Altitude218
CountryUnited States
Palestine

#2 Palestine

Village in Crawford County, Illinois, US

Population1,263
Coordinates39.0036500, -87.6128000
Altitude137
CountryUnited States
Start: Rockford (-89.094, 42.27113)
End: Palestine (-87.6128, 39.00365)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 483 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)10h 00m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)07h 30m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)06h 00m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)05h 00m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)04h 17m
80 mph (129 km/h)03h 44m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
10.6 gal
40.13 L · about $39.97
Round trip
$79.95
21.2 gal · 80.26 L
Estimated CO2
94.2 kg one way
Round trip: 188.4 kg / 415 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $39.97 $79.95
Mid-grade $4.25 $45.08 $90.16
Premium $4.65 $49.33 $98.66
Diesel $5.30 $56.22 $112.44

Assumes 8.3 L/100 km (about 28.3 MPG). CO2 is an estimate and varies by vehicle, fuel blend, traffic, and terrain.

Prices in Illinois · May 31, 2026

There is no time difference between Rockford and Palestine. The current time is 07:45:48.

Distance to Other Cities

Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.

How did we calculate? Place names are translated into coordinates. The Haversine formula calculates straight-line distance; driving distance uses road network data.